Cold Coffee Machine Concentrate Mixing for Fresh Filtered Taste
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Piston-type coffee machines produce turbid and suspended materials in coffee beverages, making them unsuitable for preparing products similar to filtered coffee, and traditional methods for cold coffee result in beverages that are not fresh due to long cooling periods and energy-intensive storage requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and coffee machine that prepare a fresh, cold coffee-based beverage by brewing a concentrated coffee extract and mixing it with cold water, using a piston-type machine with a brewing chamber, pressure-control device, and metering system to achieve a high concentration coffee concentrate, which is then diluted with cold water to achieve a drinkable and refreshing beverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a piston-type machine is used to prepare cold coffee beverages, then the beverage contains desired turbid and suspended materials for espresso products, but the beverage becomes unsuitable for filtered coffee preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing process is segmented into two distinct stages: first, brewing a highly concentrated coffee extract with high pressure to extract maximum coffee substances including turbid materials; second, diluting this concentrate with cold water to achieve the desired filtered coffee characteristics. This segmentation allows the piston-type machine to produce both concentrated extract (with turbid materials) and final filtered coffee (without turbid materials) using the same device.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the concentration parameter dramatically - brewing at high concentration (multiple times normal drinking quality concentration) and then diluting with cold water. This parameter transformation allows the system to produce beverages with different characteristics: the concentrated extract contains turbid materials suitable for espresso, while the diluted beverage achieves filtered coffee clarity and taste.
2Temperature
If regular filtered coffee is produced and cooled down over a long period, then the beverage reaches room temperature, but the coffee is no longer fresh at dispensing time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary brewing of highly concentrated coffee extract before the actual beverage preparation. This concentrated extract is then mixed with cold water at the moment of dispensing, achieving cold beverage temperature immediately without requiring long cooling periods. The preliminary concentration step allows rapid cooling through dilution rather than gradual cooling over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition concept by mixing hot concentrated coffee extract with cold water, achieving an immediate temperature transition to a refreshing cold beverage. This avoids the gradual cooling process and maintains freshness by preparing the beverage at the moment of service.
3Productivity
If large amounts of brewed filter coffee are stored for cooling, then the beverage can be prepared in advance, but additional energy is required for cooling agents and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the concentration parameter to produce highly concentrated coffee extract (multiple times normal drinking quality concentration). This concentrated form requires minimal cooling energy because the actual volume to be cooled is small. When diluted with cold water at serving time, it produces the desired beverage volume with refreshing temperature without requiring energy-intensive cooling of large volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential coffee substances in highly concentrated form, separating the coffee solubles from the need to cool large volumes of water. By taking out the concentrated coffee extract and mixing it with cold water at service, the system eliminates the need for energy-intensive cooling and storage of large beverage volumes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method ensures a fresh, cold coffee beverage with reduced storage volume and energy consumption, eliminating the need for active cooling and simplifying handling, while maintaining the taste and dry substance share of filtered coffee.
Implementation Method 1
preparing a coffee concentrate with the supplied predetermined amount of ground coffee in a brewing chamber
Implementation Method 2
piston-type machines push the complete beverage amount with high pressure through a brewing unit
Implementation Method 3
mixing it proportionally with an excessive amount of cold water, so as to prepare a pleasantly cool, drinkable coffee-based beverage
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a fresh, cold, coffee-based beverage using a predetermined amount of ground coffee, includes: feeding a predetermined amount of ground coffee into a brewing chamber; preparing a coffee concentrate with the supplied predetermined amount of ground coffee with a brewing operation in the brewing chamber, wherein the prepared coffee concentrate constitutes a specifiable multiple (VK) of a concentration (KN) for a normal drinking quality for filtered coffee at approximately 1.2 to 1.4% dry substance share; and mixing the prepared coffee concentrate with an amount of water which corresponds to a specifiable multiple (VM) of the amount of the prepared fresh coffee concentrate to prepare the fresh, cold, coffee-based beverage.